Natural, Cheap, and Homemade

With the springy weather we had the past few days I felt alive once again. I'm really just no fan of the cold. So, along with improving my running routine I've been busy with new things around the house...

1) Freezer jam. For only a few dollars I bought freezer jam plastic jars and pectin at Kroger. Between manager's special strawberries and blackberries I had in the freezer (which survived the ice storm!) I was able to make 5 jars of jam. It'll last in the freezer for up to a year and thawed out in the fridge for 3 weeks. Right now I am enjoying the blackberry jam that I picked and prepared. Yum.

2) Felt board. For Lucy's Easter basket I'm going to make a felt board. Since she's too little for Easter candy but we still wanted to fill and hide eggs, Alan and I decided to fill her eggs with all the little shapes she can use on her board. I think she'll have fun with it and it is rather economical, if I do say so myself.

3) Baking soda. I'll tell you, nothing gets the stainless sink clean like baking soda AND it keep the drains from smelling funky. I've also used it to wash my hair this week-- a friend of mine who lives on the seminary campus said many of the ladies there are forgoing shampoo for a baking soda and hair oil routine. I have to say my hair feels better. I've never found a shampoo I like so maybe this is a long awaited answer to my bad hair days.

Now since it is cold today I'm curious to see if the next warm spell brings on another downpour of frugal inspiration.

"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" ~Mark Twain